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245 were listed as 'head of household', 313 as lodging in other people’s homes, 123 in inns and lodging houses and 60 in 'temporary or makeshift accommodation' which could have included turf and mud huts, caves and old lime kilns. Census details for the navvies working on the 10 miles of the railway in Worcestershire would presumably have been in similar proportions<ref name=JM>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] pp. 46-47.</ref>.
The 1861 census population tables attribute the increase of the population of Shineton, near Wenlock Edge,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/b24751261_0001/page/458/mode/1up Census of England and Wales for the year 1861 : population tables, on archive.org]</ref>, Highley<ref>[https://archive.org/details/b24751261_0001/page/456/mode/1up Census of England and Wales for the year 1861 : population tables, on archive.org]</ref> and Upper Arley,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/b24751261_0001/page/471/mode/1up Census of England and Wales for the year 1861 : population tables, on archive.org]</ref> as being due to temporary workers employed on the railway.
==Newspaper reports==
*1860 On 23 January a labourer at [[Mount Pleasant Tunnel]] lost an eye and part of his nose when a large piece of timber fell on him.<ref name=BWJ>Berrow's Worcester Journal, reported in [[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 47.</ref>
*1860 "ACCIDENT IN THE TUNNEL.--On Monday, an accident of the most serious nature occurred to Mr. Cruppar, the contractor for the brickwork in the tunnel. The unfortunate man was engaged on the scaffolding, when he accidentally fell to the ground, his head coming is contact with the metals, and we are most sorry say that he sustained very severe injuries on the head, as also on the back. Medical assistance was at once procured."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000401/18600321/034/0003 Shrewsbury Chronicle - Wednesday 21 March 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1860 "BRIDGNORTH - RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN THE TUNNEL. — On Thursday morning last a lamentable occurrence took place in [[Bridgnorth Tunnel|the tunnel of the Severn Valley Railway, now being constructed in the new town]]. It appears that whilst Samuel Burton, a navvie, was busily engaged in excavating part of the rock at a place where it had recently been blasted, a large mass of the rock gave way and fell with considerable force on the back of the unfortunate fellow, who, thus prostrated, suffered from a dislocation of the spine and the fracture of several ribs. He was at once conveyed to his residence in the Cart Way, where medical assistance was immediately afforded him, but we regret to state with little effect, as the man is gradually sinking and his friends despair of his recovery from the serious injuries he has experienced."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001467/18600418/069/0006 Eddowes's Journal, and General Advertiser for Shropshire, and the Principality of Wales - Wednesday 18 April 1860, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1861 "IRONBRIDGE - FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday last a boy named Evans, son of Thomas Evans, of the Little Ferry, near [[Bowers Yard Lime Kilns Siding|Benthall Edge]], met with his death under the following circumstances :—Deceased, who was a boy eight or nine years old, had got upon a truck on the Severn Valley Railway, loaded with limestone, and which tips on its side. It appears that he lay upon the board which lifts up and down upon a hinge, and his weight overbalancing the carriage he turned the load over upon himself. When extricated from under it he was quite dead and much mutilated."<ref name=ESJ2509>Eddowes’s Shrewsbury Journal 25 September 1861, via Broseley Local History Society</ref>
*1861 "ACCIDENT ON THE SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY.—On Wednesday Richard Jones, a navvy, while getting into one of the empty trucks at [[Hampton Loade|Hamptons Load]], fell under the wheels, which passed over his right foot, and so injured his toes that lie he had to submit to amputation."<ref name=ESJ2509/>
*1862 "FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY. — An accident, which terminated fatally to one of the workmen on the Severn Valley Railway, a man named John Grosby, occurred on Tuesday. Near to the [[Buildwas]] station a siding is being constructed; and, in order to expedite the work, night relays of men are employed. About half-put three o’clock on the morning of the day named an engine passed down the line from Shrewsbury. It was stopped at the Buildwas station for a supply of water, and whilst there the discovery was made that one of the labourers had been run over. He was found close to the rails, with both his legs cut off. The engine was backed, and the poor fellow was placed thereon, and conveyed to the Bridgnorth Infirmary, where he expired about seven o’clock. The unfortunate man has left a widow and two children to mourn his untimely end. An inquest was held on view of the remains at the Squirrel Inn, Bridgnorth, before W. D. Bette, Esq., coroner, and a verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned."<ref>Shrewsbury Chronicle 17th January 1862, reported in [http://www.broseley.org.uk/Papers/Broseley%201862.pdf Broseley Papers]</ref>
*1875 "SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE KIDDERMINSTER AND BEWDLEY LOOP LINE.-A serious accident occurred on Wednesday morning on the line in course of construction between Kidderminster and Bewdley. The contractors. Messrs. Dickenson and Crockett, have a large staff of men engaged on the works, the heaviest part of which comprises the cutting of a tunnel through the sandstone ridge to the west of the Stourport Road. The hardness of the rock necessitates its being blasted, and on Wednesday seven men were engaged in this work, when a charge they had put in failed to explode. It was determined to put in a fresh charge, and whilst the men were proceeding to do this it is supposed that a spark from the iron tools striking the rock caused the original charge to take fire. The explosion of the gunpowder blew six of the men some distance from the spot, and when their comrades ran to them they were found to be badly hurt. Two, whose injuries were most severe, were removed to the Kidderminster Infirmary, and the other four men were taken to their lodgings. One of the men has lost his eyesight by the accident. It is stated that all the men are strangers to Kidderminster."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000150/18750918/003/0003 Worcester Journal - Saturday 18 September 1875, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1876 "ACCIDENT AT HOLLOWAY'S THEATRE.—An accident occurred at this theatre, on Saturday evening, to a navvy named Yates. He went to the Theatre to witness the play, and when going to his seat, his foot slipped, and he fell upon his leg, which was broken. He was subsequently admitted to the Kidderminster Infirmary where the broken limb was successfully set. Yates Was engaged on the line, and met with an accident some weeks since, when he had the misfortune to break the same limb."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000150/18760311/004/0003 Worcester Journal - Saturday 11 March 1876, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1876 "FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE LOOP LINE.—A serious accident occurred on the loop line now being constructed between Kidderminster and Bewdley on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of two men and the serious injury of two others. About sixteen men were engaged on the night turn at the Bewdley end of the tunnel which is being driven, and suddenly a large mass of earth fell. A number of men were knocked down, but those only slightly covered with soil soon crawled out. Unfortunately, four of the men were deeply buried in the earth, and though vigorous steps were taken to reach them, it was two hours before they were all found. Henry Phillips and Matthew Jones, said to be Staffordshire men, were dead; and Michael Greenall, and a fourth man, whose name we could not learn, were severely hurt. The deceased were both married men and leave families. Mr. David Corbet was soon on the spot, and attended to the two injured men, who were conveyed to Wribbenhall, where they remain in a precarious state."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001785/18760318/103/0008 Kidderminster Times and Advertiser for Bewdley & Stourport - Saturday 18 March 1876, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1876 "FATAL ACCIDENTS IN KIDDERMINSTERACCIDENT ON THE NEW LOOP LINE. Yesterday morning—One Of the men, named Abel Cooper, residing at Wribbenhall, shortly after eleven o'clock a shocking accident happened on who are engaged in constructing the new loop-line now in course of construction, between Bewdley and Kidderminster. About 80 men were engaged met with a serious accident on the Kidderminster side of Monday evening whilst at work in the tunnel, excavating . A truck used for carrying away the earth, and while four men were standing upon some rock about 9 feet from soil was running along the metals, shovelling earth into the waggonsand came in contact with Cooper, a portion of the rock weighing about 15 tons suddenly slipped. It is said that there who was a " fault" in the rockknocked down, and the moment it slipped a volume of water rushed from the fissure. One of the men, named John Pritchard, living at Sutton Common, jumped to the ground, and the whole of the rock fell upon him, completely entombing his body. The other men were moren fortunate. They slipped with the rock, and none were seriously injured; although wheel went over one of them was buried up to his shoulders. Strange to saylegs, the uninjured men showed no ready disposition to extricate Pritchard, regarding his case as hopelesscausing an extensive laceration. Mr. Dickinson and one of his foremen named SwagerC. Webster, surgeon, set to workBewdley, and in about half an hour were able was summoned to bring out attend the bodyman, which was then quite dead. The man had fallen headlong and his feet were fond first. The body was removed to an adjoining public housealthough the latter is going on as well as could be expected, when an inquest he will be held. Mr. W. Cowen and Mr. D. Corbel were soon on confined to the spot and rendered all the assistance possiblehouse fur a considerable period. The injured accident occurred not far from where two men were taken to the Infirmaryburied alive three weeks ago."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/00017850000150/1876091618760408/099005/0005 Kidderminster Times and Advertiser for Bewdley & Stourport 0003 Worcester Journal - Saturday 16 September 08 April 1876, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1876 "FATAL ACCIDENTS IN KIDDERMINSTER. Yesterday morning, shortly after eleven o'clock a shocking accident happened on the loop-line now in course of construction, between Bewdley and Kidderminster. About 80 men were engaged on the Kidderminster side of the tunnel, excavating the earth, and while four men were standing upon some rock about 9 feet from the metals, shovelling earth into the waggons, a portion of the rock weighing about 15 tons suddenly slipped. It is said that there was a " fault" in the rock, and the moment it slipped a volume of water rushed from the fissure. One of the men, named John Pritchard, living at Sutton Common, jumped to the ground, and the whole of the rock fell upon him, completely entombing his body. The other men were more fortunate. They slipped with the rock, and none were seriously injured; although one of them was buried up to his shoulders. Strange to say, the uninjured men showed no ready disposition to extricate Pritchard, regarding his case as hopeless. Mr. Dickinson and one of his foremen named Swager, set to work, and in about half an hour were able to bring out the body, which was then quite dead. The man had fallen headlong and his feet were fond first. The body was removed to an adjoining public house, when an inquest will be held. Mr. W. Cowen and Mr. D. Corbel were soon on the spot and rendered all the assistance possible. The injured men were taken to the Infirmary."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001785/18760916/099/0005 Kidderminster Times and Advertiser for Bewdley & Stourport - Saturday 16 September 1876, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1876 "ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON THE LOOP LINE.—On Monday another accident occurred in the tunnel on the Loop line between Bewdley and Kidderminster. The engines were engaged as usual in removing the soil, rock, &co., from the line, when by some mischance a man named Philip Stanley, stoker to one of the engines, got between that and a truck, receiving serious internal injuries. He was removed to the Infirmary where he lies."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001785/18760923/108/0008 Kidderminster Times and Advertiser for Bewdley & Stourport - Saturday 23 September 1876, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
*1877 "TERRIBLE GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION NEAR KIDDERMINSTER - TWO MEN FRIGHTFULLY INJURED. An explosion occurred at mid-day, on the line now in course of construction, between Kidderminster and Bewdley. Two men were blasting rock near the tunnel, when a portion of the fuse fell into a gunpowder barrel, and a tremendous report was heard. Both men were hurled a considerable distance by the force of the explosion, and when found among the debris were frightfully injured about the upper part of their bodies. It seems almost impossible for them to live."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000150/18770224/019/0005 Worcester Journal - Saturday 24 February 1877, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
===Court appearances and other===
*1861 "A DRUNKEN Navvy. —On Saturday, before W. W. Browne, Esq. and Alderman Nock, Richard Cleyton was brought up, charged with drunkenness, and fined 10s. and costs, or 14 days in default. Committed."<ref name=ESJ2509/>
*1861 "Robbery by a Navvy : William Bache, working on the railway, was charged with stealing a bundle of clothing, the property of Henry Williams, also a navvy, containing two pairs of moleskin trowsers, waistcoat, shirt, smockfrock, two handkerchiefs, pair of boots, tin can, razor and strop, and other articles. The facts of the case were most singular, as given by the evidence of the companion of Williams, one Jesse Law, who deposed that himself and Williams had come up from Bewdley to Bridgnorth, where they had been working on the railway. They arrived on the evening of Saturday last and went to the Tumbling Sailors publichouse. After partaking of some ale there, Law, taking up Williams' bundle in mistake for his own, went out and put up at the Star publichouse, where, soon after he went in, he deposited the bundle under the kitchen screen and fell fast asleep. It appeared that prisoner and another navvy named Thomas Hunt, were drinking at the Star at that time, and at 12 o'clock, the time for closing the house, they went out and the landlord, David James, saw one of them take up the bundle from under the screen and carry it away with him; Law being then asleep, and going to remain in the house. The missing property was traced on the Sunday evening into the prisoner's possession, who had it at his lodgings, at John Bache's, Listley street, where the police took possession of the bundle, and charged him with the robbery. John Bache, tailor, of Listley street, deposed to prisoner lodging at his house. On the Saturday night he came in about a quarter past twelve and brought the bundle, as now produced in court, with him. When asked whose bundle it was, he said it belonged to a man working on the railway, and he gave it to him to keep as he was going off. Prisoner had told him (witness) he had been working up at Coalport, and witness understood he had had the bundle from there. The evidence of David James, Chief-constable Cole, and Police-constable John Instone, corroborated the above evidence. Prisoner made a long rambling defence as to his going from the Star publichouse to Yates's, the Prince of Wales beershop, on the Saturday night, and meeting with a navvy running, who gave him the bundle to keep, saying his wife was after him and he wanted to get out of the road; and he said he would call for his bundle on the Monday. On being told that the bench had made up their mind to send him to Shrewsbury gaol for trial, he at once succumbed, and begged their Honours to adjudicate on it at once, and pleaded guilty to the charge. The Mayor said the case was clear against him, and in hopes that it would be a warning to him for the future. , they would deal as leniently as they could, and sentenced him to six weeks' imprisonment in Shrewsbury gaol and kept to hard labour."<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000401/18610517/032/0005 Shrewsbury Chronicle - Friday 17 May 1861, on the British Newspaper Archive]</ref>
==Notes==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navvy Navvy on Wikipedia]
*[https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/navvies-workers-who-built-railways Navvies: workers who built the railways, National Railway Museum website]
[[Category:The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership]]
